Mehfawni returned to the bed and sat beside him. "Will you rest if I stay with you?"
"I'm not tired. I thought you said you were taking me to bed. Unless this means you don't want me." Khyff tilted his chin upward, as challenging as a warrior.
"Khyff, there's no need to pretend with me. Kin kahlah shows the truth. We sense emotion and physical changes. I can 'smell' your weariness. I do not think less of you because you are tired. I'm a warrior. You don't yet understand what that means among my people, but part of it is knowing you can trust me, and knowing I'll look after you ahead of myself." She stroked her thumb across his lower lip. "You've had no reason to trust any of my people up to now, but you can trust me. That means when you need rest, you do not need to pretend otherwise. Do you understand?"
His blue eyes darkened. He glanced away, then opened his mouth, but said nothing. Frustration marred his features.
Asking for emotional closeness cost him pride. She could understand that. It was like asking a lover for sex the first time. His innocence at this rocketed lust through her. She would teach him to trust.
He needed her to care for him. He could satisfy her after she'd made sure he knew he was worthy of love. Her people had destroyed his life, robbed him of his mother, and cast him into a life of hellish maltreatment. She would not use him.
"It's all right, Khyff." Fawni rested her hand over his. "You can say no. I want to care for you, not hurt you."
His eyes widened. He looked from her eyes to her mouth and then back. The tart smell of his fear softened, became less distinct as he struggled with trust. At last, he smelled clean, fresh as the rainforest after a storm.
Yes! He had hope. He felt safe. Another scent arose, like leather, warmed too long in the sun. Pride. He thought he must demand something in return, so he could stay in control. The thought made her smile. He was acting like a warrior. How sweet! How could such an adorable male not be married yet?
"Mehfawni." He worried his lower lip with those straight white teeth of his. "I don't want to be alone. Get in bed with me. If you want me to trust you, how about we cuddle--without sex."
It felt like a black-and-white rainbow had burst into color inside her. It cost him greatly to humble himself and ask for so small a thing. She would deny him nothing.
Did that teasing smile on his face mean he intended to tempt her, or see if she'd give in? Warriors slept with males without having sex all the time. Well, they could. If they wanted to. They hardly ever wanted to, that was all. But they could. She swallowed. She could do this.
"If that will make you happy, Khyffy, then I am happy to grant your desire."
He lay down while she went to the other side and climbed into bed.
She held out her arms and drew him into them. He snuggled next to her while she pulled up the covers. He fit against her as if he'd been created for it.
Khyff rested his head against her shoulder and wrapped one arm around her. The crook of his elbow lay beneath her breast, and he slid his hand behind her shoulder as he tightened his hold. The feel of his warmth against the underside of her breast made her breath catch.
"Is this okay, Fawni?"
She took a shallow breath. "Pah. Yes." She bit into her lip.
"I'm glad. This feels so good. I like having you in my arms. It feels right. You feel right." His voice rumbled against her, sending shivers across her skin. "Tell me if I need to move or if I'm too heavy, okay?"
She nodded, unable to find the breath to speak.
Lying half-pinned beneath the hard length of his body, his arms around her, she swallowed, drowning in lust. A Kin male would have smelled her heat by now. But a Kin male would not have the patience Khyff had with sex. No other lover had ever put her needs so far ahead of his own.
The sound of Khyff's breathing changed. Soon, his body rested more heavily against hers.
She closed her eyes and played with the fair strands of his hair. How would she ever explain to her family that the bed toy she'd chosen turned out to be a man her people almost destroyed? They owed Khyff restitution and renewal. They owed him a life among them. She had to make them understand.
But even she couldn't understand how quickly he'd captured her heart.
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